 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2000-09-22 23:24
Well, my son 12 y.o. has been playing for a little less than a year and 1/2. And he got in the Junior High A band (pretty good - they have three bands of about 40-50 kids each) but he got placed as SECOND chair! not second clarinet but 2nd chair. Thanks for the advise early on about "puffy" cheeks, rhapsody in blue and all the stuff I've printed out for him about good technique from this BB.
For making A band he got a new mouthpiece and ligature, is being so appreciated (by the director) enough, or is it time to go try out used R and E 13's and leave the Vito for marching band if he does that?
Ginny proud parent of Max.
Ginny
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-09-22 23:34
Ginny,
I left buying the "good" clarinet until my clarinet-playing reached 8th grade.
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Author: Allison
Date: 2000-09-23 00:35
My friend didn't buy his R-13 until 8th grade and I have been using a LeBlanc and have been making plans to purchase an R-13 being a 10th grader (15 years of age). We are both in the top band, but I don't suggest buying that nice of a clarinet for a 12 year old. Chances are the clarinet will get more abuse than it would if you gave it to him at the age of 14 or 15. So stick it out a while, it doesn't sound like he has much competition anyways
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-09-23 04:44
Definately keep the Vito as if he does choose to join the marching band ranks, you don't want to subject a good wood clarinet to the various conditions found outside. Plus its nice to have a good backup horn if you have to put the other in the shop. My daughter plays plastic in the fall, wood in the spring.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-09-23 15:39
I'm proud too! We just bought the R13 for our son who is a junior in HS and almost 17. He still uses the "good ole Bundy" for marching band and to keep in school. The good horn will only go to school for concerts. I play, and have owned a Selmer Signet Special (intermediate level) for 31 years. Though the Selmer is an old friend and plays well, playing the R13 is like going from my Chevy truck to a Lexus. If you have the money, ($1700+) and your son is careful and will mostly keep the Buffet home, I'd say go for it, otherwise wait until he is closer to college age.
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Author: Chloe
Date: 2000-09-24 00:38
Well Done!
I'm sixteen and have been playing first clarinet in my school senior band since I was about 13. My family and teacher thought I was good then but I stuck with my old clarinet until earlier this year when I got my Buffet RC. I would say that unless the quality of instrument is hindering his progress wait, because I don't believe that I could have selected or benefited as much from my RC had I got it several years earlier, as I'm much more certain about things like the tone I want to achieve, and tuning and how I want things to 'feel' than I was then. If you buy one now, and he's swapping brands, try not to do it too soon before a big concert as it can take a while to get used to the feel of a new instrument and maximise it's potential. Most of all, keep being so supportive because it will give him the confidence(and the possibility) to play and play well. My parents told me at 9 (and subsequently when at 11 or 12 I insisted I was quitting) to keep playing because it would look good on my uni application and encouraged me to take exams. When at 13 I got very into my playing and wanted to go to the local music school on a Saturday morning, they told me it was a waste of time as I played at schooland I didn't need to go and refused to take me so I got up at 6am, leaving 30 minutes later to catch 2 buses and arrive for 9o'clock to a place 20 minutes drive away. After a year of this I was forced to stop going as it exhausted me for the rest of the weekend, now I play in an orchestra(but only the weeks my friend goes) it is so important that parents support young musicians as it makes them feel that they're doing something worthwhile and allows them to stretch themselves in lots of musical situations which can give them added confidence and makes it all much more enjoyable!
Just my ramblings,
Chloe
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